2011 Audi Q7 3.0T

A Taste of Germany's Most Hated SUV

Tiny bits of gravel crunch and pop under our tires as we roll across a hard-packed dirt path, just outside of Ingolstadt. Traffic is bad, really bad; a midweek holiday and long weekend have conspired to pack Germany's usually efficient autobahn tighter than an Oktoberfest biergarten. So we're taking backroads on the return to Munich, which doesn't really explain why we're on a mostly deserted bike path -- or what happens next.

At a shaded T-intersection, we slow to a stop to check for pedestrians and pedalers. A well-dressed gentlemen Schwinns in from the left, posture stiffening as he catches sight of us. With a baleful glare and all the bile he can muster, the man spits out, "Prick!" as he zooms by.Hey, mein freund, don't blame me, the nav lady said it was okay.

Audi's U.S. P.R. flack, who shall remain nameless because he's, ahem, cackling in the seat behind me, tells me that our bike path jihad probably wasn't the only issue. Dieter's dander likely was up because much of the German population despises the Q7.Why?

Turns out that, to a country obsessed with engineering and efficiency, the Audi Q7 represents all that is wrong with the rest of the world. No matter how smoothly styled or LED illuminated, the porpoise-proportioned, seven-passenger, V-8-powered, gas-sucking SUV screams supersize fatuosity auf Deutsch.

Perhaps that explains why Audi is completely reformulating its Q7 petrol powertrain strategy for 2011. Bid aufwiedersehen to the 4.2-liter V-8 and 3.6-liter V-6 engines; all gas-powered Q7s will now come equipped with an all-new supercharged, direct-injection V-6 engine in either a high- or low-output configuration mated to a slick new eight-speed Tiptronic transmission.This new strategy simply reeks of clever engineering. Though two engine outputs are on offer, they are the result of two different states of tune applied to the same engine. This one hardware/two output approach saves Audi vast sums of money, which it clearly dumped into powertrain development.

I dont even think the 1/2 ton suvs could handle the weight of the duramax up front. It would probably only be able to sit inside a 3/4 ton suv, and that in itself would eliminate half of the buyers. I think gm is the only manufacturer that even offers a 3/4 ton suv.

Sorry, I'd buy the Diesel.A SUV needs a diesel, IMO. All of these Tahoes, Expeditions, etc. need to offer diesel options. It's insane that they don't.It used to be, in the 90s, you could order a Tahoe with a diesel. Granted, not many people did that since the old "Detroit Diesel" was garbage, but the modern day Duramax is a pretty good engine that'd be a fine alternative to the gas-sucking 5.3L and 6.2L Small blocks in the current Tahoe/Suburban line.

@domerich- you claim to live in Germany but then state "things aren't that different around here...?" What is the truth?Let's not discuss degrees. I work with PhD imbeciles all day long. In finance, its called the dollar standard- oil is priced in US dollars and from that one makes comparisons to show what the PPP is between two countries. This is how FX rate mechanisms work. Otherwise, what you are doing is comparing apples to oranges. Since most readers here earn dollars, it makes sense to put it in proper context- dollars. Go do some due diligence.

@blackberry Have an MBA myself.An average American would have to work work for 5.30 than an avg. European so 7 US sounds more than it is to us. I figure you get my point. Mostly rich moms in my neighborhood with a kid in the back drive SUVs and a couple of show offs elsewhere. Definitely a minority use them for towing purpose. I've lived most my life around here so I should know better. C'mon what's two years. I bet you barely speak the language. Things aren't that different around here, except for the language maybe.

@Domerich- I should add to my list, easily offended. I did not mean to offend anyone but you should not try and obscure the facts. Everything I stated was factual- gas price was in dollars and not Euros; I am fully aware you get paid in Euros but its for comparison based on PPP. I work in finance so I know what I am talking about. Germans are very conservative socially and financially when it comes to their own finances, not politically. On the other hand, Germans are very liberal/socially biased politically. Terms both used correctly to describe personal lives or political views. A German only sees fit to buy an SUV when he/she will use if for a single purpose such as towing. That is the conservative aspect. Good day.

@blakegalloway it's easy, if you want that sensible German car you get one with TDI or a 2 liter straight 4 turbo. if you want to get that triple digits German car, you get a V8. And then there are Germans who want both or cant make up their minds. They will get the 4.2 liter TDI to do triple digits and still have a fairly good mileage. If they have no money they will get the V6 which isn't really good at anything LOL

I love the US/Germany comparisons. We hear all the time how sensible German cars are because of the high fuel costs and taxes. Then someone boasts about being able to legally do triple digits...I don't get it.

@nagamshot After i reread my original post i noticed that i put "total sales". I was referring to total sales of suvs, but can see how it was taken as sales of the whole audi lineup. Also, you are in the ballpark with domestic sales of audis (in march of this year they sold 22k vehicles), but you are way off on sales in the states. March sales totaled 18,000 vehicles (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304198004575171602445053876.html).I personally believe the q7 is a vehicle that was made to be exported (us, china, russia, etc.) Whether you want to acknowledge this or not, 7 seats is a factor for a lot of buyers. An a6 avant still only seats 5, and i dont know about the useful space arguement (most suvs back seat will lay flat for storage). Another factor to consider, what if you wanted to pull something. How is that going to work out with a station wagon?

Man I loved the time I spent in Germany! There's nothing like pulling on to the freeway (Autobahn) and knowing the only limit is your car!! I usually cruised between 150-170 kph (94-106 mph) in my Opel and would watch cars like S8's and AMG S classes roll by at 240+ kph (150+ mph). When I rented an Alfa Romeo Brera Coupe I rolled with my buddy's GTI at 210 kph (130 mph,the GTI's top end but not the Alfa's!!) for almost an hour,which was one of the coolest drives ever!!. The SUV is fairly rare in Germany, but I did notice actual off road type SUV's (Jeep Wranglers, Mitsubishi Pajeras, Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Cruiser Pradas, Mercedes G-wagons) were in about the same numbers as here (although more of theirs are diesels ).

I love the interior. It's my personal favorite compared to MB ML, BMW X5, Land Rover LR3, etc. The new engine is a big plus too. More fuel efficient yet more powerful is always impressive.Im still a little shakey on the exterior. The styling (as on most newer Audi's) is very stylish and eye-catching, especially those LEDs. Too bad the shape of this thing looks like a football. The Chevy Traverse and Mercedes R-class also have the same very ugly shape

@blackberry your statement kinda makes you look ignorant.first of all we earn in Euros so it's more like 5.30 to us."Germans are ultra conservative and believe in socialism"how does that even make sense, conservatives hate socialists. At least here they do. You see a lot of SUVs on the streets here even if they're not all full size they still represent the idea of SUVs. So some hate them but also a lot of Germans love SUVs obviously. Anything else is just not true and offensive.

@psycow- gas is $7.62/gal as of this writing in Germany. They hate the Q7 because it represents excess- its large, heavy, expensive and not very fuel efficient; at the same time, its spacious, safe, expensive and powerful. Germans are ultra conservative and believe in socialism; therefore anyone who drives anything larger than a BMW 3 series is considered to be greedy and extravagant. I know, I lived there for 2+ years and hated every minute of it.

Being from Germany this was fun to read. I personally don't hate SUVs I just think they don't make much sense. For those who hate it I'd say are driven by jealousy. Those who drive it with a 3 liter TDI mostly so it's not really about V8s oder V8 related costs. I also believe it's a very bad decision of Audi to not offer a V8 engine in the US, Americans won't buy it. Gas prices are overrated everywhere.

@behr82117seats is no selling argument, most of this SUVs are always driven solo or by rich moms with one or two kids in the back... a A6 Avant has more usefull space inside than the Q7.Audi is seeling 20-25,000cars/month in Germany thats about twice the numbers they sell in the USA.

@IBx1Gas is expansive in Germany but that does not stop us to buy V8 models@ psycowboyGas is between $6-8 gallon not $5, insurance are not displacment rated, insurance rating in Germany is a complicated mix of all data, from repair costs, driver age, yearly driven miles, gender, job, area of car registraion, rate of accidents with your car model, if you own a garage etc. Germans hate SUVs because they are rolling road blocks! We are not a nation of 55-65mph highway fall asleep speed! The next thing that piss most people off, the talking about speed limit to reduce overall consuption/emissions, I drive a car able to go 162mph and I regulary go that speed, but not everytime I sit in my car, if I drive normal I can get 30mpg and better.A SUV had always bad mpg no matter if doing 25 or 60mph and realy bad doing 100mph, there is no realy need for them!! Befor speedlimits they should bann the real gas guzzler who always get bad mpg not only if pushed to the limit.

Ooooooppppsss. I actually just read the article. SUV, not a mini-van. If you buy one then you better get ready to explain all the time that your $62k car only looks just like a mini-van but it is classified as an SUV. Barely. Looks like a chinese luxury mini-van. Whatever people will buy them. people buy anything.

@psycowboy Cars only hold 5 people, this on the other hand holds atleast 7. Another thing to consider, what percentage of audi total sales are in the fine country of germany? I dont know the answer to this question, but im willing to bet not as much is in the states. The point being, if the germans really feel that this vehicle is unnecessary, and the engineering involved in it could be spent elsewhere throughout the audi lineup; who really gives a flip. This vehicle was probably not created for their domestic market as much as it was for ours.

98SN95, I completely agree with you, particularly in regards to the interior. The Audi looks like it costs. BMW's in general have very generic, uninspiring and unattractive interiors unworthy of their price range. It seems all their interiors were designed in the early 90's.

Probably a fine vehicle....but finding it hard to believe that the market for SUV's is still large enough to support all of the offerings in the market.To me, the logical engines of choice for SUV's are diesel.

Brown Pride...please explain how is the x5 better??? How can you say that when nobody has driven the new Q7 yet?? Oh thats right your the bmw fanboy who thinks your 335 has a v6...lol anyway nice looking vehicle and at least it has a nice interior especially compared to the cold, boring, and dull interior of the x5.

These advancements are all well and good, but until this thing goes on a diet and sheds the execess weight. The new Toureg and Cayenne just coming out have been redesigned and have had the weight loss. When the Q7 gets this underpinnings, it should really scream. Until then, lipstick on a pig.

well, wouldn't it be a cool idea to offer it in the ol' United States of the V8 with the HO supercharged 4.0-liter from the A8 as a topline option? it'd get my vote for best friggin SUV ever and you can call me a prick all you want hahahhah

Not only is gas about $5.00 a gallon in Germany, but insurance premiums are directly related to engine dsiplacement / power output ratings, and there is virtually NO WHERE to legally drive off road in the country; penalties for damage to the landscape is INSANELY expensive. Germans don't necessarily HATE these cars; it's hard for them to understand them. They are not a population of posers. What's it for?...is a very logical question. Why not put that engineering into something with a lower center of gravity, better drag coefficient...etc...as in a CAR!!!